Flood damage has rendered the Galveston Housing Authority (GHA) properties temporarily unlivable. The ground floors of all dwelling properties sustained varying degrees of water penetration up to eight feet in some cases. All buildings have been evacuated and the officials of the City of Galveston have condemned the properties until extensive repairs are affected and the health and safety issues have been rectified. Estimated completion dates are unavailable at this time.

Residents are being informed that all properties are unsafe, unsanitary, and unhealthy, and therefore Residents are strongly encouraged not to enter the units. If residents do choose to enter their units to remove belongings, they are doing so at their own risk. All damaged belongings may be left in units and will be discarded by GHA. Residents will be notified as soon as units are available for re-occupation.

HCV (Section 8) units are currently being inspected by a HUD contracted agency to determine their eligibility status. If an HCV unit fails the housing quality inspection, landlords will have until October 31, 2008 to bring the unit up to standard. Housing Assistance Payments will continue up until that time for all HCV units, unless the landlord terminates the contract prior to that date.

Please see the most recent press statement by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development at http://www.hud.gov/news/speeches/2008-09-24.cfm. This statement provides information on the new disaster housing assistance program in conjunction with FEMA.

All residents who need housing assistance must register with FEMA at 1-800-621-FEMA as soon as possible.